Media & Public Relations

Binghamton University professor to discuss singing career

2005-10-28

Mary Burgess, professor of music, will share a biographical sketch of her professional life on the opera and concert stage, at the Harpur College Dean’s distinguished lecture at 2 p.m. Tuesday, November 1, in Casadesus Recital Hall on the Binghamton University campus. The lecture is free and open to the public.
Burgess’s lecture, titled “A Life in Song: The Singer’s Journey,” will feature accompaniment by Michael Salmirs at the piano.
Burgess had her New York City Opera debut at age 22 while still an undergraduate at the Curtis Institute of Music. Her European opera debut took place at the Holland Festival in the title role of Cavalli's L'Erismena. She has appeared as soprano soloist with over two dozen U.S. orchestras, including the Boston Symphony, with Seiji Ozawa; the Cleveland Orchestra, with Lorin Maazel; the Chicago Symphony, with Simon Rattle; and the Cincinnati Symphony, with Klaus Tennstedt and James Conlon.
Burgess has performed at prestigious festivals across the globe including those held in Spoleto, Italy; Aspen; Chautauqua; and the Cincinnati May Festival. She has performed in leading roles with numerous regional opera companies and her repertory includes 38 opera roles from Monteverdi to Virgil Thomson, in five languages, and over 45 works with orchestra. Burgess has recorded performances issued by CRI, CBS Masterworks, Columbia, Telarc, and Sony Classics.
A reception will follow in the Theatre Department Green Room. The lecture is sponsored by the Harpur College Dean’s office and United University Professionals (UUP). Call 607-777-4941 for more information.